Indian Police Fire Teargas at Rally Against Rape and Killing of Trainee Doctor
TimeSEP 2024
India: West Bengal Govt Agrees to Fire Police Chief Over Kolkata Rape Case
Above: Children on adults' shoulders wave Indian national flags as others hold candles during a demonstration to condemn the rape and murder of a doctor, at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, on Sept. 4, 2024. Image copyright: Dibyangshu Sarkar/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Kolkata, which was once deemed India's safest city for women, has become dangerous because of the policies of Banerjee. After campaigning on making the city safer in 2011, the ruling party went against its promise the very next year when it completely dismissed a serious sexual assault allegation. Banerjee's governing style is to throw bandaids on a deeply systemic issue rather than provide meaningful protection to women.
Narrative B
This case is a microcosm of a much larger national issue. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, there have been countless cases of men not being prosecuted for sexual assault due to their political connections. The government's enabling misogynistic culture is major the reason that less than 30% of sexual violence end up with a conviction. Women across India deserve more from their male peers and politicians.